Ruth J. Colvin
Emeritus Member
Ruth is the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, which she started in 1962. In 2002, Literacy Volunteers of America merged with Laubach Literacy to become ProLiteracy. Ruth is an honorary member of the board of directors of Literacy New York and a member of the board of directors of Literacy CNY.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006, the nation’s highest civilian award. She was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the US President’s National Volunteer Action Award in 1987. She is the author of Tutor 8th edition, READ, I Speak English 5th edition, A Way with Words, In the Beginning Was the Word, and My Travels Through Life, Love, and Literacy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and nine honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.